Born on a Kansas farm and educated in a one-room school, he lived a tough and difficult existence as a boy. Glenn and his brother kept the school's fire going, and one morning when the boys poured kerosene on live coals, the stove blew sky high. Glenn would have escaped, but his brother had been left behind. Rushing back to help, he suffered terrible burns as did his brother. His brother died, and Glenn's legs sustained severe damage.

The story does not end here, however. Glenn had long dreamed of making a track record. Through a period of discouragement, disappointment, and threatened meaninglessness, he somehow kept going. More, he made up his mind that he would walk again-and he did! That he would run—and he did! That he would discipline himself—and he did! That he would master the mile—and he did! That he would break the international record—and he did!

Glenn Cunningham purposed in his heart. The purpose in a person’s heart captures the soul and has power to transform the ugliest circumstances into the richest blessings.